There’s a sad, hollow feeling starting to spread throughout my body as I write this and realize the emptiness the immediate future will hold. All thanks to the stinkin’ coronavirus.
Unless your name is Patrick Star, and you literally live under a rock in Bikini Bottom, you know that COVID-19 has caused a mass panic throughout the world. As of 2:40 p.m. Thursday, there were 134,098 documented cases with 4,964 deaths worldwide. While the panic may seem a bit overblown, the death rate is alarming and it’s better to be safe and prepared.
For me, and millions like me throughout the country and the world, all of the sporting events being cancelled may just be enough to force me into depression.
First, it was the NCAA conference basketball tournaments, which are nearly as exciting as the big dance itself with mid-majors duking it out for a spot in the 68-team field. Then Utah Jazz stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell contracted the virus, and the NBA decided to suspend play for the foreseeable future. The NHL quickly followed suit. The NFL cancelled its annual league meetings, MLB suspended spring training games immediately and subsequently pushing Opening Day back two weeks and the cherry on top was the NCAA tournaments for men and women being canceled.
I mean, what’s a world without March Madness? It’s surely not one I want to exist in. What makes it great are the upsets, filling out brackets, the craziness of it all and the pure pandemonium it provides. While the regular season in college basketball can be a little dull, there’s no sporting event that can quite compare to the tournaments. What other sport throws 68 teams into the field with equal chances to win a national title? None. That’s a vacuum that can’t be filled.
Then there’s the NBA. Right now it sounds like the association is going to take a four-to-six-week hiatus before resuming play, but the season was just starting to get good. Playoff spots are on the line, Zion Williamson is breaking the internet almost every time he plays and the King himself (LeBron James) has staked claim to his throne once more. Selfishly, the brief interruption may be a blessing in disguise for my team, the 76ers, so Ben Simmons can get healthy again, but even that silver lining isn’t enough to bring up my spirits.
If you can’t tell, outside of family and friends, my life revolves around sports. I watch games every night. I even got into this field not because I love writing but because I wanted a career that would keep me around sports. For now, covering high school baseball and softball will have to suffice and satisfy my cravings. Luckily, there’s some good ball being played right now in Marion County. Columbia Academy’s baseball team looks poised to compete for another state title with a lineup deeper than anything seen in the county since the Cougars last won state in 2017. And Columbia High and West Marion both have the pitching to make postseason runs.
In softball, there isn’t a weak link to be found. West Marion, East Marion and Columbia are a combined 14-6 as of deadline Thursday. The Lady Wildcats have as complete of a team as you will find in Class 3A, and I would be surprised if they didn’t at least reach south state. The Lady Trojans look vastly improved at the plate and should make the playoffs. And so far, the Lady Eagles look like the best team in their district and are tearing the cover off the ball. Seriously, read the page to your left and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
I’m hoping in a few weeks this will all have been a big scare, a vaccine will be discovered and we can all go back to our lives, and I can go back to my happy place. I just have to hope it doesn’t spread to Marion County, and the schools don’t shut down athletics. That would just push me over the edge.
For the record, corona is best served with limes, not hazmat suits.
Joshua Campbell is sports editor of The Columbian-Progress. Reach him at 736-2611 or joshuacampbell@columbianprogress.com.
